How to Leverage Local Events for Business Growth in Summit County, Colorado
Summit County, Colorado, is known for its vibrant community and a host of local events that attract both residents and visitors. These events present a golden opportunity for local businesses to connect with potential customers, enhance visibility, and drive sales. Here’s how businesses can effectively leverage these events for growth.
Key Local Events in Summit County
Summit County hosts several noteworthy events throughout the summer, offering businesses multiple opportunities to engage with the community:
First Fridays: A popular community event organized by the town of Silverthorne, occurring on the first Friday of every month. These events draw a significant local crowd. Businesses can inquire about boot/table space by emailing info@silverthorne.org
Keystone Festivals: Keystone hosts four major festivals during the summer, each attracting both locals and tourists:
June 22nd-23rd: Bacon and Bourbon Festival
July 13th-14th: Wine and Jazz Festival
August 3rd-4th: Bluegrass and Beer Festival
August 31st: Oktoberfest
Farmers Markets: Regular farmers markets provide a steady stream of potential customers:
Dillon Farmers Market: Fridays from 9 am to 2 pm, running from June 7th to September 13th.
Breckenridge Farmers Market: Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm, from June 9th to September 8th.
Benefits of Participating in Local Events
Local events are a fantastic way to interact face-to-face with customers. They provide a platform to showcase your products and services, build relationships, and create memorable experiences. Here’s how businesses benefit:
Enhanced Visibility: In-person events increase your brand’s visibility among a friendly and targeted audience.
Personal Connections: Engaging directly with attendees helps build trust and loyalty, as people prefer buying from those they can connect with personally.
Community Engagement: Participating in local events demonstrates your commitment to the community, fostering goodwill and support.
Strategies to Attract Event Attendees
Success at local events depends on how well you can attract and engage attendees. Here are some effective strategies:
Free Tastings: Ideal for food, beverage, or restaurant businesses, offering free samples can draw in crowds and entice them to visit your establishment later.
Discount Cards: Providing discount cards that can be redeemed in-store encourages attendees to make a purchase during or after the event.
Swag Giveaways: Distributing high-quality branded swag creates a positive association with your business and generates excitement.
Interactive Games: Setting up a game at your booth can showcase your business’s personality and keep attendees engaged.
Giveaways: Holding a giveaway is an excellent way to capture contact information for future marketing efforts.
Leveraging Event Marketing
One of the major benefits of participating in larger events is the marketing done by the event organizers. They typically promote the event and its vendors through social media and email lists, ensuring a good turnout without requiring significant marketing effort from individual businesses.
Managing Event Day Challenges
Local events can draw large crowds, which might result in long lines at your booth. Here are some creative ways to keep attendees occupied and engaged while they wait:
Live Demonstrations: Conduct live demonstrations of your product or service to entertain and inform those waiting in line.
Interactive Displays: Set up interactive displays or kiosks with information about your business or fun facts related to your industry.
Engaging Staff: Ensure your staff is well-trained to interact with attendees, answering questions and keeping them engaged.
Tracking Success
Measuring the impact of your participation in local events is crucial for understanding your return on investment. Here are some metrics to track:
Discount Card Redemption: Monitor how many of the discount cards distributed at the event are redeemed in-store.
Email Sign-ups: Track the number of new email sign-ups collected during the event.
Sales Data: Compare sales figures from event days to typical days and other events to gauge effectiveness.
Participating in local events is a unique opportunity for businesses in Summit County to connect with their community and grow their customer base. Show up, be authentic, and select events that attract an audience aligning with your target market. By leveraging these events effectively, you can enhance your brand’s visibility and drive significant business growth.